Beijing – WWF China launched its newly expanded environmental education website (www.wwfchina.org/kids) for children on November 16 at Beijing’s Dongzhimen Middle School. Teachers at the prestigious pilot school will use the website as a tool to help teach environmental education to students aged 12-16.

WWF’s website, entitled ‘Children of the Earth’, is part of WWF China’s Education for Sustainable Development programme, which aims to enable students in China's primary and middle school to participate as active and informed citizens in the development of an ecologically sustainable society.

To achieve this, WWF is working with teachers in select pilot schools such as Dongzhimen Middle School to promote student-centered and inquiry-based learning. This is in line with China’s National Environmental Education Guidelines, which were approved in November 2003, and are now in the beginning phases of implementation in schools across China. WWF played a major role in helping China’s national government develop the guidelines.

WWF’s ‘Children of the Earth’ website received the ‘Best Non-profit Website’ award from the renowned annual Web Marketing Association website contest. ‘Children of the Earth’ includes bbs (bulletin boards) and personal story forums that encourage students to recount their own impressions of the environment and what they can do to protect nature. The students can turn their thoughts and words into action by downloading the easy-to-do activities, such as bird watching and calculating water consumption at home.

‘Children of the Earth’ is the first step in WWF China’s aim to develop online tools to engage China’s 200 million students in environmental awareness. In addition to ‘Children of the Earth,’ a second website for advising teachers and a classroom CD-rom are being planned.

The website launch celebration took place November 16 at Dongzhimen Middle School. ‘Children of the Earth’ is supported by Lafarge, a member of WWF China’s Corporate Alliance. At the launch, Lafarge Chairman Bertrand Collomb will be presented with the WMA award.

For further information:

Alex Marston, Communications Coordinator, WWF China Programme, Tel 86-10-6522-7100 ext 3233. Email: alex@wwfchina.org